Matthew 5:38-48 Are you a perfectionist? A dictionary definition: a perfectionist is a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection. In psychology, perfectionism is a personality trait of a person who strives for flawlessness and sets excessively high performance standards, often accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and deep concerns about how others […]
Read MoreTag: sermon on the mount
Building & Nurturing Reconciling Community
Matthew 5:21-24; 33-37 So many labels. We are named this, that, the other thing. We are told what we are capable of or not capable of. And we bring all of these experiences into our relationships. We bring all of this into community. These labels, these stereotypes—they hinder us from fully expressing ourselves and sometimes […]
Read MoreSaltiness Leads to Light
Matthew 5:13-16 I’m not a big fan of bland food. If you are, no problem—no judgements. Everyone has different tastes and certainly, what you grew up eating affects your taste buds. But for me, I like strong flavors in food. I gravitate towards spicy and tangy curries and sauces, a wide variety of chili peppers, […]
Read MoreRe-framing Blessedness
Matthew 5:1-12 How do you greet people? How do people greet you? It depends on where you live, of course. In Hawai’i, someone might approach you and say: How’s it? In Philly and South Jersey, I hear this a lot: How YOU doin’? Or, this: Whazzup? or What’s up, yo? Or the really short version: […]
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